Birdlore: The Iridescent Life of Florence Merriam Bailey

Ages 4 to 8, Grades P to 3

From the author of Shark Lady comes the true story of Florence Merriam Bailey, the groundbreaking scientist who inspired a nation to take up bird-watching and worked tirelessly to protect our feathered friends.

Before Florence, there was no such thing as "bird-watching". Bright plumes on lady's hats were all the rage, but no one was climbing trees or wading through marsh-grass to spot the birds they came from. Even scientists studied birds in labs instead of outside in their natural habitat.

But Florence changed all that. A bird-lover since childhood, she wanted to show the world what made these creatures special. She wanted everyone to care as much as she did, and so she taught classes, printed pamphlets, and eventually began leading bird walks so people could see it with their own eyes. Over time, they did see! With hard work and perseverence, Florence changed the way we look at birds, inspiring millions to follow in her footsteps on bird walks of their own.

With gorgeous illustrations by award-winning artist Devon Holzwarth (Listen), Florence's story takes flight in soaring spreads that capture her inquisitive spirit and passionate advocacy for our feathered friends, a legacy that lives on to this day.

Story Locale:New England

About the Author

Jess Keating is a zoologist-turned-author who writes with the sort of wisdom you can only get from multiple crocodile bites and skunk sprays. She's received oodles of state awards and starred reviews for her books, which include the World of Weird Animals nonfiction series and the biographies Shark Lady and The Girl Who Built an Ocean. Jess lives with her husband in Ontario, Canada.

Author Residence: Ontario, Canada

Devon Holzwarth is an illustrator and writer of picture books full of warmth and charm. She grew up in Panama with the jungle as her garden and parrots and iguanas as pets. Devon earned her BFA in 2000 from the Rhode Island School of Design focusing on screen printing and painting and afterwards lived in California painting murals around the Bay Area, before becoming a children's illustrator. Her previous books include Sydney Taylor Notable book Tia Fortuna's New Home and Schneider Family Book Award winner Listen. She currently lives in Aachen, Germany with her husband, kids, and beloved old hound dog. Learn more at devonholzwarth.com.

Illustrator Residence:Aachen, Germany